DOT works to ensure safety of Merritt Parkway

The Department of Transportation is working on a plan Tuesday to ensure the safety of the Merritt Parkway after a falling tree in Westport killed two people over the weekend.

The DOT says it has more than 850 maintainers working along the state's highways identifying problem trees to help make sure an accident like the one that killed Joseph Stavola and Jeanne Serocke, both of New York, doesn't happen again.

Two boys in the backseat of the car survived. They were treated and released from Norwalk Hospital for minor injuries.

The DOT says the Merritt Parkway is one of the only roadways in the state that has trees within 30 feet of the shoulder because it is a historic parkway. However, the tree that fell was more than 30 feet away. Related Information